Old8 1939 Austin8 Restoration.
I would like to thank you for your nice comments regarding my restoration.
This was my first project and will probably be my last (wife not keen)!
Introduction and Background
I was born and raised in a small village in Switzerland where old cars were often being repaired and maintained and the auto skills and knowledge were shared amongst the young and old people. Thus I learned many of my auto skills. I trained in Electrical, electronics and electromechanical fields being employed by Burroughs, IBM and Phillips Medical Systems.
I migrated to Australia in 1966 for the decimal conversion and transferred to New Zealand where I started my own business in x-ray supply and service. Now retired and enjoy driving the Austin 8 whenever possible.
In the beginning...
The 40 year wait was well worth it to once again experience the pleasure in driving an Austin 8. I have never forgotten the thrill and excitement of driving a four door Austin 8, with the owners consent, on a private farm in Switzerland. I was 10 years old. With the drivers seat adjusted to the utmost forward position and sitting on the leading edge, even then on a fat cushion with my body curved like a banana, I just managed, with the tips of my toes, to partially depress the three pedals.
Despite all these"shortcomings" I managed to start and drive the car in first gear, narrowly missing fruit trees, cows and chickens and drive back to the shed unscathed. Since that unforgettable first solo drive, I have had a very soft spot for cars of this era.
Love at first sight...
30 years ago when Mrs Alford (the first owner) parked her Austin 8 opposite my office to do her weekly shopping, I fell in love with it.
Over the following 5 years I continuously reminded her of my interest in purchasing her car. She had many problems with the police as the car was not registered or had a warrant of fitness. The brakes were marginal, the gears slipped often into neutral and the steering was similar to a large boat!
Mrs Alfords story was interesting - In 1939 while out walking with her beau in town, she spotted an Austin 8 in a Car Sales window. It was one of the first imported in a light fawn colour instead of the normal black.
She fell in love with it too. She told her boyfriend she would marry him of he bought her this car. He did ... and she did. The price 150 pounds sterling.
In the 1940s they broke one rear axle whilst in the countryside and it was repaired by the local welder. This lasted many years, until new axles were imported to New Zealand. The total mileage of the car was 87,500 miles being only 2,100 miles per annum.
Nine year Restoration Begins....
No time was wasted in stripping the car down to its last bolt, nut and rivet. "Gallons" of blood, sweat, tears and thousands of working hours later, the car was fully restored for my daughters wedding. The first picture shows this daughter at the age of 12.
The restoration like all restorations was really hard work, most of which was accomplished by myself from stripping down of the engine to the edge-priming of exterior. My wife Ann helped me jobs such as paint removing, edge priming and painting internal parts. She also helped greatly with colour choice. The most productive time on this project was, for years, in the very early hours between 3am and 8am in the morning. (wife was asleep).
After completing the engine and chassis I drove the car, sitting on a beer crate for a few months testing the performance of the engine, until we could afford the next stage. Some chassis welding work was required to cut out rust and replace the outer door skins with new steel. To combat future errosion where possible, I used modern advanced anti corrosion materials, such as marine grade stainless steel screws, bolts, nuts and washers.
The body and all metal was stripped down to bare metal before being primed with PA10. There is not a speck of "gunk" bog anywhere in the car. There were very few areas where lead was needed. Just the thought of drilling a hole or mounting a parts on top of "gunk" makes me shiver.
To be continued....
I send just three photos this time up to the point in my story. |